Automatic micro-feeding system for applying multiple independent plant nutrients to irrigation systems

Claim 1

An automatic feeding system for applying multiple nutrients to soil through an irrigation system comprised of an irrigation pipeline connected to a source of irrigation fluid, the automatic feeding system comprising: a flow sensor connected to the pipeline having a mechanism adapted to measure the irrigation fluid flow rate in the pipeline and to produce an irrigation flow rate signal based on said fluid flow rate; a plurality of injection units wherein each unit is comprised of a nutrient container; a conduit connecting the container to the pipeline; an injection pump located on the conduit between the container and the pipeline; and an adjustment means for adjusting the injection pump output in accordance with the nutrient concentration; and a controller apparatus in communication with the flow sensor and the injection pumps, the apparatus adapted to communicate a pump signal to the injection pumps to pace pump output in accordance with the irrigation fluid flow rate signal; the adjustment means and the controller apparatus in combination maintaining a constant injected parts per million of nutrient as the irrigation fluid flow rate varies.